Suspect in 1989 Victorville killing to face trial

VICTORVILLE -- A man suspected in a 1989 fatal stabbing in Victorville will face trial, a judge determined Wednesday.

Ruben Abad, 47, of Santa Maria was identified as a suspect in the death of Herbert Santos, 56, of La Puente through fingerprints, authorities said. Fingerprints also revealed that Christopher Anthony Solis, 45, of Lompoc was a suspect in the case, San Bernardino County sheriff's officials said.

Solis, serving multiple life sentences in the California Institution for Men in Chino on an unrelated homicide, has not yet been charged in Santos' death.

Santos was found dead off Stoddard Wells Road near Victorville on March 21, 1989. He had multiple stab wounds.

His vehicle was later found on the 101 Freeway near West Hollywood. Investigators collected blood and fingerprint evidence at the time, but no suspects were identified.

Sheriff's cold case investigators resubmitted evidence for analysis in October 2011 that led to identifying the suspects. Abad was arrested in Bakersfield in May.